FOCAL International's Footage Awards 2017 Now Open for Submissions and Sponsorship

4 October 2016

FOCAL International’s Footage Awards 2017 Now Open for Submissions and Sponsorship

FOCAL is now accepting entries for the 2017 FOCAL International Awards, the most prestigious and complete set of awards for the global footage community. The 14th annual FOCAL International Awards will be held on 25th May 2017 at a sparkling ceremony in London, UK. Deadline for submissions is 1st December 2016.

London, UK – 4th October 2016 – FOCAL International today opened the submissions phase of their annual FOCAL International Awards, to be presented on 25 May, 2017, with a call for creative professionals worldwide to submit their work for consideration in one of 15 award categories. Now in its 14th year, the FOCAL International Awards showcase the creative use of stock, library and archival footage by producers, directors and production companies worldwide, as well as contributions made to the global production community by archives, film libraries, researchers and technicians, as well as the work done to restore and preserve these irreplaceable assets. The deadline for all productions premiered in 2016 is set for 1st December but productions premiered later in the year can request a late entry.

The FOCAL International Awards celebrate achievement in the use of footage in all variety of genres, across all media platforms plus its restoration. Recent winners for their Best use of Footage in a documentary include many prominent, critically-acclaimed films such as Amy, Senna and Night Will Fall. Lifetime Achievement winners have included Rick Prelinger, Grover Crisp and Raye Farr. FOCAL International were also honoured to have Martin Scorsese personally collect the prize for the Best Restoration of the Red Shoes.

Producers, filmmakers and other creative professionals who have used library footage in a documentary, feature film or any other form of production over the last year are encouraged to submit their work for consideration. There are also Awards for best archive researcher, library and restoration work.

FOCAL International has enjoyed support from all areas of the industry over the past 14 years and would welcome inquiries from new sponsors at all levels – main sponsorship and category sponsorship. For a brief overview of the Awards, check out FOCAL’s Awards Ceremony Promo video.

Stock, library and archival footage play a central role in many of today’s most critically acclaimed films, and, for over a decade, FOCAL International has worked to recognize and celebrate the skill and artistry with which leading filmmakers source and implement this indispensable creative asset. The world renowned FOCAL International Awards Ceremony is a magnet for all leaders of the global footage community and will take place on 25th May 2017 at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London, UK.

The 2017 FOCAL International Award Categories are follows:
• Best Use of Footage in a History Production
• Best Use of Footage in a History Feature
• Best Use of Footage in a Factual Production
• Best Use of Footage in an Entertainment Production
• Best Use of Footage in an Arts Production
• Best Use of Footage in a Music Production
• Best Use of Sports Footage
• Best use of Footage about the Natural World
• Best Use of Footage on Other Platforms
• Best Use of Footage in a Cinema Release
• Best Archive Restoration & Preservation Project
• The Jane Mercer Footage Researcher of the Year Award
• Footage Employee of the Year
• Footage Library of the Year
• Lifetime Achievement Award

The qualifying period is productions premiered in 2016 and entry is via the FOCAL website http://www.focalint.org/focal-international-awards until the closing date 1st December. Any productions being premiered during December can make a late submission, by prior arrangement.

In all the production title categories the submission fee is £75. For other categories there is no fee.

The Federation of Commercial Audiovisual Libraries International is a professional not-for-profit trade association formed in 1985. It is fully established as one of the leading voices in the industry, with a membership of over 300 international companies and individuals.
Its purpose is to facilitate the use of library footage, images, stills and audio in all forms of media production; promote its members - libraries selling content plus those whose serve the industry; provide a platform for members to promote themselves and their interests; encourage good practise in the research, licensing, copyright clearance and use of footage; support, promote and educate on the need to preserve and restore footage and content; act as an information resource for the footage and content industry; offer training in key skills and in the broader appreciation of the footage and content industry.www.focalint.org